Morocco Aims to Boost Olive Oil Exports, Compete in Mediterranean Market

The issue was discussed during a webinar focused on the theme "Olive cultivation: Valorization, promotion and development in Morocco and the Mediterranean". It emerges from this meeting organized by the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute (IAV) and the Spanish Embassy that Spain is the world’s leading producer with 1.23 million tons in 2019-2020 (or 30% of world production).

It is followed by Italy (340,000 t), Greece and Tunisia (300,000 t), Turkey (225,000 t) and Morocco (145,000 t). In terms of exports, Spain ranks first with 290,000 t, followed by Italy (209,000 t), Tunisia (200,000 t) for the year 2019-2020. Morocco exported only 20,000 t. The lack of competitiveness of Moroccan products facing a surplus supply and a stagnation of global demand is the cause of this drop in exports. The price of olive oil on the international market does not exceed 2.5 euros per liter, while the liter costs more than 4 euros in Morocco.

"The weakness of the productivity of this sector is the result of multiple constraints related to drought and diseases, as well as the often precarious mode of operation, particularly in extensive cultivation and harvesting systems which represent 90% of the national heritage," explain the participants. They have nurtured reflections aimed at better positioning Moroccan olive oil in the Mediterranean.